How do you feel about EMOTICONS?

[lindacmt]

Used to intensely dislike emoticons. Now finding that a picture can be worth a thousand words. Guess they can get you in trouble, but can keep you out of trouble as well. 

[champak97]

I like some of the emoticons, mostly the happy, funny ones

[Skyisbluetoday]

I like them; nice to post them when your unsure how someone else might feel about your post! 

[falcon9]

   

[monnee]

Great!     them.         

[CharmedPhoenix]

When I first learned about them I didn't like them.  I don't use them if I have to remember the keystrokes, but here where you can just pick the images it's fun to use them to color up a post.   

[alaric99x]

I don't use them, I'm an emoticon idiot.  I understand that I'm often misunderstood because I refuse to use them, but I can't bring myself to do so, they're just so cartoon and kindergarten that I naturally have to reject using them.

[falcon9]

I don't use them, I'm an emoticon idiot.  I understand that I'm often misunderstood because I refuse to use them, but I can't bring myself to do so, they're just so cartoon and kindergarten that I naturally have to reject using them.

While I tend to agree with you, "alaric", years ago, (before emoticons), I'd use "*baffled*" or "*amused*", etc. instead  - at first.  That usage would sometimes more clearly convey the unspoken parts of text-only communications and sometimes not. A picture may be "worth a thousand words" but, what if those aren't the words intended?

*wry grin*

[alaric99x]

I get your point, and you're not wrong.  I just somehow can't give up the idea that I don't have sufficient literal eloquence to do without emoticons, but, then again, what point is there in trying to express myself to those that can't understand my meaning without the use of a few cartoons?

[falcon9]

I get your point, and you're not wrong.  I just somehow can't give up the idea that I don't have sufficient literal eloquence to do without emoticons, but, then again, what point is there in trying to express myself to those that can't understand my meaning without the use of a few cartoons?

Well, it may not be simply a matter of appended cartoons/emoticons in a text-based medium.  Without "tone", "inflection" or non-verbal cues, (which many are accustomed to being combined with verbal communications in person), text-only often gets misunderstood - no matter how eloquent or articulate one may be. In fact, sometimes too much eloquence can attain such a Mach speed and altitude that the effort may be wasted. As far as being understood by others goes, at least one third of the process of communication is the responsibility of the one receiving it, (another third falls to the 'sender' and the remaining third rests in the medium of communication, (the language itself).

That said, some people take some sort of twisted pleasure in using emoticon-cartoons to convey something more subtle, (whether others correctly interpret intent or not).